St. Elizabeth's Andre Patton receives DeLucia Sportsmanship Award

Tuesday

Jan 8, 2013 at 10:48 AMJan 8, 2013 at 11:06 AM

St. Elizabeth High School senior Andre Patton was honored today, Jan. 8, with the 2012 Michael DeLucia Sportsmanship Award. Presented annually for 41 years, the award recognizes a senior Catholic school football player in greater Wilmington who has exemplified outstanding performance, attitude and character on and off the field.

Staff Report

St. Elizabeth High School senior Andre Patton was honored today, Jan. 8, with the 2012 Michael DeLucia Sportsmanship Award.

Presented annually for 41 years, the award recognizes a senior Catholic school football player in greater Wilmington who has exemplified outstanding performance, attitude and character on and off the field.

Andre's brother, Eric Patton, received the 2011 DeLucia Sportsmanship Award. This is the third time in the award's history that the honor has been presented to a set of brothers and the first time that brothers have received the award in consecutive years. Archmere siblings Mike Udovich and Pat Udovich were recipients in 1982 and 1984 respectively, and St. Mark's siblings Louis Wright and Joey Wright were recipients in 1999 and 2003 respectively.

The 2012 award was presented by Tom DeLucia at a Tuesday morning assembly in the Benedictine Performing Arts Center on the campus of St. Elizabeth, with all St. Elizabeth High School students and faculty members attending.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Michael DeLucia Sportsmanship Award was founded in memory of Michael DeLucia, who died of meningitis when he was 18 months old. Michael was the son of Tom DeLucia and Patricia Dorris DeLucia, a 1955 graduate of St. Elizabeth High School. Tom is a 1952 graduate of Salesianum. Recipients are selected annually by an anonymous committee which reviews nominations submitted by coaches.

"This is a signature award in the Diocese of Wilmington," said St. Elizabeth Principal Shirley Bounds. "Football players and coaches in all the Catholic schools hold it in high esteem as a symbol of honor and great achievement. It is especially meaningful to us because of our relationship with the Patton and DeLucia families."

PATTON'S FOOTBALL ACHIEVEMENTS

In his senior year, Andre Patton scored 24 touchdowns. He had 48 receptions for 761 yards and 109 carries for 677 yards totaling 1,438 multipurpose yards. On defense he made 68 tackles and snagged three interceptions.

Andre has received conference and state recognition for his football achievements this season. The Viking wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner was named 2012 Defensive Player of the Year by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association. He was also named to the First Team Offense, First Team Defense, and Second Team Special Team as kick returner on the 2012 Delaware High School All-State Football team. In addition, Patton was named First Team All-Catholic Conference as wide receiver, defensive back and punt returner.

He has been selected to play in the 2013 Delaware Blue-Gold All-Star football game.

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